Motor vehicle



July 10, 1928.

M. TIBBETTS MoTori VEHICLE Original Filed April 7, 1923 jUNlTj -D MILTON TIBBETTS, or nErnoI'r, M mmal-in, AssIsnon 'r'o PACKARD ivro'ron' CAR M PANY, or awson- ICHIG N, AZGORPORATION or MICHIGAN." I

Patented July 10, 1928.

Moron VEHICLE.

Original application filed April 7, 1923, Serial No. 630,457. Divided and this application Serial No. 193,137. s

"provide. a steering mechanism with simple mechanical means for securing the steering wheel to the steering post.

Another object of the invention isto pro- V vide a steering mechanism'with a wood or a steering post of a motor vehicle steering other non-metallie steering wheel secured to the steering post entirely from'underneath the wheel. I Y 1 Another obj cct of the invention is to provide a steering mechanism with simple and inexpensive means to secure asteering wheel having a wooden, composition or other nonmetallic hub to the steering post.

Other objects of the invention willappear from thefollowing description taken in connection with the drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of a steering mech anism made in accordance with this invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is an underneath view of the steering post head, the section being taken substant-ially on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.,

Referring to the drawings, 10 represents mechanism or steering gear. At its lower end it is adapted to be connected to suitable gearing which in turn connects with the pivoted steering wheels at the front of the vehicle.

A stationary tube 11 usually surrounds the steering post to provide a mounting for the latter. The upper end of the steering post is indicated at 12 and to it is secured a casting 13 as by a nut 14 which is threaded on the steering post. This casting 13 forms an en- 'largement of the upper end of the steering post and it extends radially in the form of a circular flange 15, with an upper face 16 which is adapted to receive a steering wheel.v

The steering post 10 ispreferably in the form of a tube and certain of. the motor control devices extend upwardly throughthe steering post.v These control devices are indicated generally at 17 and'one of their parts or handles 18 may be seen as extending laterally or radially to a point directly over the .face 16 of the enlarged end of the'steerfiled May 21,

ingpost. This makes the handle 18 very" accessible to the operator. 2

The-control devices 17 may be withdrawn as 'a unit from the steering-post but because ofthe connections at their lower ends this 1s a somewhat diflicultoperation and it is desirable, therefore. that the steering wheel" may be mounted on the steering post and dismounted therefrom without disturbing the control devices. This is possible in the form of the invention shown herein.v

rhsteering wheel is indicated at 19 and it isformed of a rim 20and several spokes 21; as'wellas a hub 22. All of these parts are preferably made of wood, composition or other non-metallic material and for the'purpose of giving strength to the circular hub 22 a reinforcing or stlffening member is provided, such as the metal ring 23 inthe 'hub of the wheel, as shown particularly in Fig.

2. This member may be made of any desired form, and-is inserted in a suitable recess in the hub of the steering wheel.

The opening in the hub of the steering wheel is slightly larger than the housing of i the control devices 17 so that a slot 24 is left through which the shank of the handle 18 may pass. It will be seen that the handles are far enough above the face16 of the enlarged end of the steering post to permit the hub of the steering wheel to be passed over the handles and finally between the handles and theface 16 so that the underneathface.

of the hub of the steering wheel rests on the face 16, as shown particularly in Fig. 2.

The steering wheel is secured .to the flanged part 15 of the upper end of the steering post by means passing from the flange to the hub of the steering wheel. As shown, this means is a series of machine screws 25 which pass throughspaced holes 26 in the flange of the supporting member, and intothe wheel hub, having threaded engagement with the reinforcing ring 23, as shown at 27. The holes26 are counterbored. as at 28 from below the flange 15, for the reception of the heads 29 of the screws 25. 1 In this manner these screws are concealedfrom view and are at the same time readily accessible when it is desired to demount the wheel.

For. the purpose of ornamentation and finish, the steering wheel is preferably pro vided with .a plate 30 which may be of metal or, as is shown herein, of Wood, the surface of which may be highly polished to give, an ornamental finish to the hub f-the wheel. 'A' ferrule 31; is secured to the inner Letters Patent is: 5 v

Ill

1. In a steeringmechanism, in comhiEnation,' a support having a face to receive a steeringwheel a steering wheel comprising a wooden l1,1-,1:1ahaving a metal: insert therein, and attaching means extending iii-em. said v support intov said metal insert to secure the wheel to the support. a. p

2. In. a steering mechanism, in combination, asupport having a face to reeeivethe hub 0t a steering wheel, a steering wheel havm-ga metab ring inserted in its hub, said cwheel bein g adapted" to. fiit on said support,

and inacl ii ne screws extending from said support into the hueb 'of said steering; Wheel andinto said rin r. 1

glued to the hub of the era be understood that'various forms 3. In a steering mechanism, i-n coilnbinm tion.,- a support having a face to receive a steering Wheel, a non-metallicsteering Wheel comprlsing a hub havlng a metal nsert therein, and attaching means including screws extending fromsaid supportinto said hub and threaded into said insert to secure the wheel to the support.

4% A ering;- me anlsre cenumsmg, a

su-pporthaving a face to receive a steering wheel, a non-metallic steering wheel having ametazl-insert including a ring at the inner edge of its huh and screws engagimgcsaid support and threaded-into said; ring to sef cure the wheel to said face.

A steering mechanism comprising a; r

support having a face to-receive a steering jwheel', a wheel; having ametal ring-inserted in its hub, and spaced screws having heads in said support and having threadeden-j 'gagement with said ring to firmly secure said whee-lagamst-sald :face;

6. A,- steeri'ng mechanismcomprising a support haivinga circular flange defining a face and spaced holes passing through said,

flange and said face, a steering" wheel: havmg a metal reikn-fiorci-nginsert, and screws: in

said holes passing intosaid Wheel and having threadeden gag'ement with said insert to; rigidly secure: the wheel to sald ilace' In testimony:

whetreot I; afiix mwzsignature.

. MILTON. re es-Ems. I 

